Question about CP

[MS05']

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello! I'm a third year and am considering CP for residency. I was just wondering if anyone could give me a little more detail into the day of a CP resident...

I know CP is more hematology, microbio and clinical chemistry based than AP so I guess I'm asking...what is a typical day like?

Info on hours / CP pay scale / benefits to AP and CP combined programs would also be helpful!

Thanks in advance!

 

[GreatPumpkin]

If you go CP only, then you will basically be limited to academics or some sort of specialty lab for testing. You will not be marketable for the normal private practice pathology positions. I will not say it is impossible to find a private practice job, but just not likely. A hemepath fellowship would be the most in demand in private practice. With that in mind your day will be alot like most academic pathologists with teaching, research, management responsibilities (ie. quality control meetings, manager meetings, etc.) and some clinical work. There is alot of management type functions for the clinical pathologist.

In academics you will also normally have a subspecialty (ie. micro, heme, blood bank). And, depending on which one you have your job will be completely different. So it is hard to tell you what your day would be like. In general CP hours are 8 to 5, no weekends unless on call. Pay in academics varies but low 100s would be about norm.

One of the main benifits to doing both is that surgical path is awesome, but besides that it opens up alot more job opportunities.

If you have any specific questions about the subspecialties, just post them and I or someone will tell you.

Good luck.

 

[MS05']

Thanks for the info Rob. I was thinking of doing hempath actually and just wondered if there would be a signifigant problem with that if I didn't go the AP way.

 

[pbp4]

MS05- i am more interested in cp also but the main benefit to CP/AP is it is only one year difference in overall training. 18 months of ap will round you out if nothing else. besides it is anti-pathology to pass up huge amounts of information that must be learned.
-p